Tuesday, March 26, 2013

"I've found that the rehab staff at CURE does way more than just rehab. In the states, physical therapists don't typically do castings or build wheelchairs, but Mirriam said that here in Kenya they basically just fill in the gaps. I've also found that my favorite parts about my time in the hosptial are doing castings and spending time in the operating room. PT's don't do either of these things in the U.S. I've been thinking about maybe changing directions professionally, and I found myself looking at surgical nursing."

This is word for word what I wrote in my journal on June 8, 2012, two weeks into my internship at the CURE hospital in Kenya. Today, I am excited (and somewhat surprised) to say that I'm pursuing a career in nursing! I would love to say that after my experience in Kenya and through God's leading I started pursuing nursing a little less than a year ago, but that would be far from the truth.

I came back from Kenya with a new perspective on missions and on the medical field, but this didn't change my plan of action for pursuing PT. I majored in pre-physical therapy and had already completed all of the observation hours, so logically, the next step was to apply! And that's what I did. I filled out the applications, wrote all the essays, got all the signatures and sent the transcripts. And then, I waited.

One after one I started hearing back from schools. I didn't get in. I had failed. And let me tell you, that's not an easy place to be. My friends are getting jobs, getting into grad schools, and traveling the world! But I can honestly say that I was okay with the fact that I didn't get in because I prayed everyday, "God, if this is not your plan, please don't let me get in,"... but I really wanted to get in!

So, God started the process of leading me back onto His path. I have amazing family who sees my potential and my love for the Lord, and they have been encouraging me all the way. As I look back I can see God leading me into nursing even as early as my sophomore year when I decided to take the classes I would need to go to nursing school "just in case." It was evident in Kenya when I would sneak out of rehab to watch surgery every Monday, and wake up at 5am to go on rounds with the doctors. My heart was somewhere else. I considered re-applying for PT school until I realized that my heart just wasn't in it. I love physical therapy and I've loved the experiences I've had in pursuing it, but I'm confident that God has a different plan for me. Praise God that when I'm stubborn and think I have it all figured out, He continues to bring me back. Ephesians 1:9-10 says,

"And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment."

I've heard so many people say that they're afraid of missing God's call or never finding what God's will really is for them. We serve a God that loves us way to much to let us fall behind or leave us guessing. God is in control of my life, He goes before me, and He will never let me go. Physical therapy is not where God is calling me right now, and I'm so glad He is showing me how to trust in his greater plan. I'm going to be a nurse! (in like 2 years...hopefully...)